Tributes paid to saxophonist after stab deathpublished at 17:39 British Summer Time 28 July 2020
Two men have been charged with murdering 22-year-old Colton Bryan.
Read MoreSummary
Sandwell named Covid-19 'area of concern'
Girl 'gravely neglected' in lockdown
Further easing of lockdown measures across England halted amid spike in cases
Ex-football coach admits more sexual offences
Peerage for former pro-Brexit MP
Muslims celebrate Eid
Updates from Friday 31 July
Tributes paid to saxophonist after stab deathpublished at 17:39 British Summer Time 28 July 2020
Attacks in town could be linkedpublished at 17:30 British Summer Time 28 July 2020
Three attacks in Newcastle-under-Lyme over the weekend could be linked, police said.
A 35-year-old man received a knife-cut to his forehead in the early hours of Saturday when a gang of teenagers punched and kicked him near the Esso Garage on the A34 at Chesterton.
Image source, Staffordshire PoliceThere was a similar incident on Bradwell Lane on Friday night, and two men were hit over the head and robbed on Wolstanton's High Street in the early hours of Saturday.
Town to get £500,000 to improve street safetypublished at 17:12 British Summer Time 28 July 2020
Part of Telford is being given more than £500,000 by the government to improve street safety.
The Police and Crime Commissioner for West Mercia, John Campion, bid for the funding and said it would be spent in the Brookside area.
Image source, GoogleThe money will be used by the police and the council to improve street lighting, CCTV and introduce a neighbourhood watch scheme.
Birmingham 2022: Games 'on time and on budget'published at 16:55 British Summer Time 28 July 2020
Kathryn Stanczyszyn
Political Reporter, BBC WMBirmingham's Commonwealth Games in 2022 will be delivered on time and on budget, a sports minister's said.
The city council has said it is reviewing all of its main projects due to the impact of coronavirus including ones like the athletes village.
But speaking at an event to mark two years until the start of the games, sports minister Nigel Huddleston (pictured) said he was still confident of keeping the budget and timescale under control.
"The budget is already nearly £800m and it's been very very carefully thought through, it's very very carefully monitored. I'm confident we will meet those budget targets."
'It was a scene of total devastation'published at 16:47 British Summer Time 28 July 2020
People in Birmingham remember the impact of a tornado that tore through the city 15 years ago.
Read MoreBroad: Woakes 'bowled beautifully in this series'published at 16:43 British Summer Time 28 July 2020
BBC SportWarwickshire's Chris Woakes took five wickets this afternoon to help England wrap up a 269-run win over the West Indies and win the three-game series.
Normally he might have expected to take the match-ball home as a memento for his achievement, but fellow-bowler Chris Broad also had a claim to it after taking his 500th test match wicket in the innings.
Image source, Getty ImagesWoakes was feeling generous after the win though and said: "I got the one from the first innings. I want Whizz (Chris Woakes) to have it, he deserves it. He's bowled beautifully in this series."
Around the web: Tributes to rugby-loving vetpublished at 16:27 British Summer Time 28 July 2020
Headlines from the Worcester News:
- Tributes to rugby-loving vet, external
- Woman accused of assaulting police officer 'too drunk for court', external
- Neighbours object to homes plan for former golf course, external
Birmingham tornado: 'The roof of the house was all gone'published at 16:09 British Summer Time 28 July 2020
BBC Radio WM"There was actually a car embedded in someone's front room."
Fifteen years after parts of Birmingham were devastated by a tornado, people in the city have been sharing their memories with the BBC.
Image source, West Midlands Fire ServiceSharon, who lived in Moseley at the time, told BBC WM she had driven home from work in Oldbury and had to park away from her house because of the number of cars left on roads.
She was running up her road, worried about her cat when she saw what the tornado had done to her home.
"It was devastating, my front room window was caved in. I did get into the house, the back door was all blown in, the kitchen window was blown in, the roof of the house was all gone, it was absolutely terrible."
When she rang her parents, they didn't know there had been a tornado and, despite finding her cat, Sharon said she ended up not returning to the house in Moseley and moved away to Rubery.
Birmingham 2022: 'Greatest sporting opportunity' for womenpublished at 15:50 British Summer Time 28 July 2020
Kathryn Stanczyszyn
Political Reporter, BBC WMThe Commonwealth Games in Birmingham in 2022 will give young women in the West Midlands a great opportunity, a basketball coach's said.
The old Smithfield Market is set to host basketball and beach volleyball, organisers said today., external
Zaina Mistri, 23, coaches basketball in Birmingham and said having the games in the city gives women in sport a chance to showcase their talents.
"The legacy from the Games will be the greatest sporting opportunity that young women in the West Midlands have ever had."
Film studios to transform unused arenas?published at 15:25 British Summer Time 28 July 2020
Local Democracy Reporting ServiceArenas currently sitting unused in and around Birmingham could be turned into film sets.
Image source, LDRSThe NEC’s chief executive Paul Thandi said some discussions about using venues within the NEC and Resorts World as well as the Arena Birmingham have taken place.
And he said he hoped to reveal details of one mystery deal that would be "quite poignant at this point in time.”
The West Midlands Combined Authority said it would mean employment for existing arena staff, who would be brought off furlough.
Around the web: Flats plan for derelict pubpublished at 14:59 British Summer Time 28 July 2020
Headlines from the Dudley News website:
Shots fired at house from SUVpublished at 14:39 British Summer Time 28 July 2020
Allen Cook
BBC NewsShots have been fired from a car at a house in Birmingham, police said.
Image source, GoogleThey were fired from a dark blue or purple SUV on Westminster Road, Handsworth, yesterday evening.
No-one was hurt but a window on the house was damaged.
Officers arrested a 41-year-old man on suspicion of obstructing an officer after he tried to walk through a police cordon and he's still in custody.
Birmingham 2022: Basketball by the Bullring 'phenomenal'published at 14:13 British Summer Time 28 July 2020
Kathryn Stanczyszyn
Political Reporter, BBC WMPlaying basketball in the Commonwealth Games in the middle of Birmingham within sight of the Bullring "will be crazy", according to basketball player Kofi Josephs.
The 28-year-old was born in the city and has represented Great Britain at senior level in his sport.
Today, with two years to go until the games in 2022, organisers revealed the old Smithfield Market will host beach volleyball and basketball., external
Kofi, who first represented England at the last Commonwealth Games in Australia, said being on home turf will be special.
"To be able to represent my country in my own city in front of family and friends and representing my country against other countries, it'll just be phenomenal."
First black president for law societypublished at 13:48 British Summer Time 28 July 2020
The Birmingham Law Society is swearing in its first black president in its 202-year history.
Inez Brown, a partner of law firm Harrison Clark Rickerbys, said she was excited to be taking over at a time when the world "is in a period of huge re-adjustment; economically, politically and socially."
Image source, Fraser Urquhart MediaMs Brown said increasing diversity within the Law Society would be one of her aims and she plans to set up a scheme that will identify and support two talented students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Your photos: The sunshine is backpublished at 13:33 British Summer Time 28 July 2020
We're seeing some sunshine again and the BBC Weather Watchers have been sharing pictures of mostly blue skies.
These ones were taken at Stoke Edith, Lower Gornall and Walsall
Image source, Sunshine seeker
Image source, Caraman on tour
Image source, AndreasAttempted murder arrest after man found badly hurtpublished at 13:17 British Summer Time 28 July 2020
Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio StokeA man's been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after police found another man with "horrific" head injuries in a flat., external
Image source, GoogleThey made the discovery on Sunday evening in Arnold Street, Nantwich, Cheshire.
The victim is in a critical but stable condition in hospital, police said.
The 42-year-old man they arrested remains in custody.
Birmingham 2022: More change expected on diversitypublished at 12:59 British Summer Time 28 July 2020
Kathryn Stanczyszyn
Political Reporter, BBC WMMore changes are expected to the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games board to make it more diverse, according to the event's chief executive.
There has been criticism of the organising committee for having an almost entirely white management team and board.
Chief executive Ian Reid (pictured) said it was an issue they needed to address and it was right it had been highlighted.
"There are other discussions ongoing. In a couple of weeks we have a board meeting, I expect there to be further change to make sure that we are more reflective of the West Midlands."
Around the web: Resident fed-up with 'boy racers'published at 12:46 British Summer Time 28 July 2020
Stoke-on-Trent LiveThe Stoke-on-Trent Live website's covering these stories today:
Bhangra song celebrates Leeds United promotionpublished at 12:39 British Summer Time 28 July 2020
Jinder Jade wrote "Marching on Together Fans Gonde Boliyan" in lockdown.
Read MoreIn pictures: Bringing the beach life to Smithfieldpublished at 12:31 British Summer Time 28 July 2020
Allen Cook
BBC NewsWe told you earlier the old Smithfield Market in Birmingham was going to be transformed for the Commonwealth Games in 2022.
Organisers said it would host beach volleyball and basketball and they've bought some sand and athletes to try and give an idea of what it may look like then:
Image source, PA MediaImage caption, Team England"s Jamal Anderson and Georgia Jones take a seat
Image source, PA MediaImage caption, Team England players played a bit of beach volleyball in front of the weeds
